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Louisiana voters will decide later this month who will be the next governor, Republican David Vitter or Democrat John Bel Edwards. The voters have been handed this choice by the 38.5 percent who bothered to cast ballots in the primary election.

The secretary of state had projected a 40 percent turnout.

The citizens of Louisiana decided to let less than two-fifths of the voters winnow the field.

It’s not our intent to criticize the candidates who are moving on. Had 70 percent of the registered voters gone to precincts, the result may very well had been the same.

But that didn’t happen. The best we can say is that Vitter and Edwards represent the endorsement of the plurality of a minority. That’s truly unfortunate when so much is at stake.

Some, like Michael Henderson, research director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, believe voters were turned off by the negative ads and the direction the state is going.

Jeremy Alford, editor of LaPolitics.com, reckons voters are tired of the constant cycle of continuing elections in the state. Louisiana often has major elections in the spring and fall, with runoffs doubling up the elections.

With the election focused now on two candidates, perhaps voters will lock in to their messages. Too much rides on this election for so small a sampling of Louisianians to decide.

Choices made in the Nov. 21 runoff will affect the decisions that lie ahead as the state wrestles with continuing deficits. The officials we elect will decide what will be cut and how we will raise revenue.

Those decisions will affect everything in state government, from health care, education and roads to prisons, state parks and museums. The decisions may convince companies to relocate here, bringing jobs with them, or go elsewhere.

You can vote early beginning Saturday through Nov. 14 at your registrar of voters or any established satellite polling place. The state also permits absentee voting by mail as an alternative to voting on Election Day.

The Secretary of State’s Office offers an app for iPhone and Android devices. Download the free GeauxVote app. Information available on mobile devices includes voter registration information, voter districts information and information about upcoming elections such as voting dates and times, voting locations and sample ballots.

The state has done a good job making it easier than ever to learn about the candidates and to vote. But it can’t cast your vote. Only you can do that.

Tough decisions await whoever is elected, and a strong turnout at the polls will add credibility to those decisions that a 38.5 percent turnout lacks. Vote.

The editorials in this column represent the opinions of The News-Star’s editorial board, composed of General Manager and Executive Editor Kathy Spurlock, Engagement and Community Content Editor Hope Young, Watchdog and Storytelling Coach Mark Henderson and Business and Politics Reporter Greg Hilburn.